Custom power electronics for large-scale grid energy storage

[philks01]

Our company is looking at building a large flywheel for grid frequency regulation services. I'm interested in learning which companies are typically involved in designing, manufacturing and installing power electronics for grid energy storage for 1 MW to 20 MW power levels. I'm interested in motor/generator drive electronics for the 500kW PMSM motors in our devices, as well as grid-tie electronics for a bank of devices.

 

[Skogsgurra]

I have seen ABB, Siemens and Vacon grid tie inverters for wind turbines in that power range (lower part of it). They seem to use slightly modified VFDs.

Gunnar Englund

http://www.gke.org

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100 % recycled posting: Electrons, ideas, finger-tips have been used over and over again...

 

[FreddyNurk]

Vectek New Zealand (now part of ABB) used to do inverters to handle such things. I believe their product line still exists.

Powercorp in Australia developed similar sorts of things for a while, may be worth a look. They don't, however, manufacture their own inverters.

Another company, Thycon, appears to be developing some sort of interface that may be capable. I believe that they're also Australian based.

I have no current association with any of the above companies.

 

[philks01]

Thanks FreddyNurk, I contacted ABB and learned of two products that may do the job. They have a product that was orignially developed by Vectek called a PCS100 that can perform grid-tie functions for multiple devices ganged together at the DC bus. They also make sophisticated drives such as the ACS800-17. This drive can regenerate high power directly to the supply transformer while meeting power quality standards. This may actually be my best solution.